Articles
GERMINATION ECOLOGY OF TEUCRIUM MARUM L.: AN ENDEMIC SPECIES OF THE TUSCANY ARCIPELAGO
Article number
723_44
Pages
315 – 320
Language
English
Abstract
Seed germination ecology of Teucrium marum L. was investigated.
The aim of the experiments was to study the dormancy mechanisms and the germination requirements with the following perspective: to avoid the risk of progressive extinction of this almost rare species and to permit an easy propagation and consequently to allow its cultivation as a medicinal plant.
Indeed the medicinal utilization of the rare flora strongly induces the biodiversity reduction with the consequent injury to the environment.
Fresh seeds of Teucrium marum were positively photoblastic and capable of germinating with different percentage, throughout the temperature range examined (10-35°C), with highest germination level at 15-20°C. In this range of constant temperatures, the major portion of fresh seeds (1-2 weeks after collecting) remained dormant showing that the ripe seeds are characterized by primary dormancy.
The breaking of this dormancy was achieved by prolonged incubation (6 month) at low temperatures (chilling treatment) and/or seed treatment with oxidative substance (sodium hypochlorite) and/or hormones (GA3). However, in spite of the seed dormancy loss, light was important for the germination trigger evidencing the phytochrome involvement.
Indeed the phytochrome importance was confirmed by the inhibition mediated by far-red light.
Pots experiments showed that germination and emergence were inhibited proportionately into depth of burial in peat-perlite.
In conclusion our germination tests evidenced that light presence and the oxidative seed treatments are crucial for germination and emergence of buried seeds.
Agronomic and ecological involvements are discussed.
The aim of the experiments was to study the dormancy mechanisms and the germination requirements with the following perspective: to avoid the risk of progressive extinction of this almost rare species and to permit an easy propagation and consequently to allow its cultivation as a medicinal plant.
Indeed the medicinal utilization of the rare flora strongly induces the biodiversity reduction with the consequent injury to the environment.
Fresh seeds of Teucrium marum were positively photoblastic and capable of germinating with different percentage, throughout the temperature range examined (10-35°C), with highest germination level at 15-20°C. In this range of constant temperatures, the major portion of fresh seeds (1-2 weeks after collecting) remained dormant showing that the ripe seeds are characterized by primary dormancy.
The breaking of this dormancy was achieved by prolonged incubation (6 month) at low temperatures (chilling treatment) and/or seed treatment with oxidative substance (sodium hypochlorite) and/or hormones (GA3). However, in spite of the seed dormancy loss, light was important for the germination trigger evidencing the phytochrome involvement.
Indeed the phytochrome importance was confirmed by the inhibition mediated by far-red light.
Pots experiments showed that germination and emergence were inhibited proportionately into depth of burial in peat-perlite.
In conclusion our germination tests evidenced that light presence and the oxidative seed treatments are crucial for germination and emergence of buried seeds.
Agronomic and ecological involvements are discussed.
Publication
Authors
S. Benvenuti, L. Ceccarini, M. Macchia
Keywords
biodiversity, seed dormancy, medicinal plant
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